Home Automation 101: Integrating Home Security

Share Your Thoughts

Share

Comment

Latest Comment:
" Hello There I found your blog the usage of msn This is a very well written article I will …

Last week we looked at how the wireless light control, automated lock and thermostat work. This week, we’ll focus on integrating home automation with a home security system. Used together, these devices can help you increase the security of your home.

Lighting Control: The Burglar Deterrent

The wireless light control is a great tool for deterring burglars. Remember, burglars do not want to be seen under any circumstance, which is why many of them rely on the cover of darkness.

A wireless light control gives users the ability to light up their house at any time, even when they’re not home. Lights that are turned on imply that someone is home, making it a less attractive target for burglars.

You can also use light control to turn on lights at set times or when certain events occur. For example, your lights turn on every night at dusk or before the kids get home from school. Another viable option is to automate the lights so they turn on if the alarm sounds. Should a burglar ever make it inside your home and trip an alarm, the lights turning on could be all you need to send them scurrying away.

Locks: Simple Safety

An automated lock provides significantly more security compared to a traditional lock and key. It protects against lock bumping, a lock picking trick used by burglars.

An advantage of paring an automated lock with a home security system is notifications. For instance, you can set preferences that send you an email or text any time the door is opened. Since only authorized users with unique codes can use the lock, it’s a great way to make sure the cleaning service or cable guy are not overstaying their welcome.

Your kids (if you have any) benefit greatly from the automated lock as well. They don’t have to worry about carrying a key around, and you don’t have to worry about leaving a “hidden” key that burglars could potentially find. Instead, your kids can just enter their code. If they forget it, you can remotely open the door for them. No more concerns about a key falling into the wrong hands!

Best of all, you’ll never get that sinking feeling that you forgot to lock the door on your way out ever again. Rushed because you were late? Lock your door remotely; it’s that simple.

Thermostats: Smart Home Control and Safety

Thermostats in general are not thought of as a means of security. However, an automated thermostat paired with a home security system equipped with a smoke and heat sensor and a carbon monoxide sensor can potentially save your home — and life — from disaster.

Imagine the smoke and heat sensor detects a rapid increase in heat, or the carbon monoxide detects a leak, what do you do next? Immediately, you can remotely turn off the heating through your thermostat and then contact the proper authorities. It may turn out that the heater was malfunctioning, but you managed to shut it down before it did any damage. Some automated thermostats even have the technology to turn off by themselves when sensing this kind of danger.

Easy Living with a Smart Home Security System

Home automation isn’t just about making your life easier; many aspects of it can be used to keep you safer. Some of the equipment — like the automated locks — has obvious security uses, but others — like wireless light control and the automated thermostat — can be overlooked. When working together, home security and automation are a perfect match.

What other ways can home security and home automation work together? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Comments (30)

Chris

Kristin

I just found this blog post when searching to see if Frontpoint and IFTTT were connected, so I’m pretty sad to see that there are 27 comments from the past 3 years and there’s still no connection. Can you post a timeline? Are you actually working on this? What are the priorities over this, if it’s not the top item? Can we get any sort of concrete response at all?

Katie Rynex

Thank you for reaching out Kristin. At this time we do not have a timeline but in an effort to make the experience seamless, they are testing this, and other similar add-ons and more information will be released as it is available. We hope this was helpful!

Kelly

IFTTT please. I’ll be switching to an off-the-shelf but not monitored solution that integrates with IFTTT if FrontPoint doesn’t get with the program. Not ideal but I personally find IFTTT integration to be more valuable than the monitoring I’m paying FrontPoint for. Would love to have both but if I’m forced to chose I will not be choosing FrontPoint.

Ed

Jason Killgo

I am looking for a security system that will integrate with ifttt and more specifically will share what sensor is set off to control lights in the rooms. z wave sensors or whatever tech you use would be awesome to integrate.

Shen

IFTT integration please. I know you said that you aren’t looking into it but it should definitely be a higher priority, especially after looking at this thread and if you really want to be a serious about home automation – at the moment my alarm system is all lonely in my house while its other friends like nest, smart things and hue play nicely together

Ken Sheppard

Dan

I highly suggest frontpoint puts priority to the home automation platforms, Works with Nest, Amazon Echo, and Apple HomeKit. As a short term solution something like IFTTT would be an acceptable bridge until proper integration is added.

I should be able to tell Alexa to enable my alarm before going to bed and alternatively also turning it off when I wake up.

Andy Goodson

Mike Davis

For those who want to use IFTTT: If you search for alarm.com there are already some recipes. For example, I set the alarm.com app to notify me via a throwaway email address every time I arm or disarm the system. Then my IFTTT recipe detects “Arm Away” or “Disarm” in received emails from donotreply@frontpoint.com and sets my EcoBee thermostat to Away or Home accordingly.

adam

Dustin

Please consider adding IFTTT integration. I’m using SmartThings at home, which lets me integrate with almost anything (including my Nest thermostat) but alas, my Frontpoint system is a system all on its own. It seems like it doesn’t integrate with anything else.

Adam W.

Tristan

Definitely interested in an IFTTT channel for Frontpoint! I have an August lock and a Nest thermostat and smoke detector and IFTTT would be an exceptional way to make these all work together. I can even imagine coming up with a recipe that uses my Fitbit (which already has an IFTTT channel) to detect when I’m asleep and turns on our Frontpoint alarm… then deactivates it when I wake up.

Meet the Team

Katie has served in multiple roles in Frontpoint’s Customer Relations department, including serving as a mentor for new Customer Support Specialists, before joining the Reputation Team. She has a knack for explaining how to use a system without confusing even the biggest technology novice.

Peter has more than 20 years of home security experience; including leadership positions at some of the country’s most prominent alarm companies. He’s been sharing tips and industry knowledge on the company blog since 2010.

*Terms & Conditions: We take your privacy seriously. By submitting a Contact Request, you agree that Frontpoint may contact you at the email address and phone number provided (including SMS and/or pre-recorded voicemail messages) for the purpose of providing you information about Frontpoint’s products, services, and pricing. To unsubscribe from our emails, visit www.frontpointsecurity.com/subscribe. To opt-out from phone contact, call 866-252-7630 or email privacy@frontpointsecurity.com.